Diaspora Ugandans call for Bobi Wine’s freedom

Ugandans living abroad are calling on the international community and the United States to help restore the freedom of Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine.

Police have surrounded the home of Ugandan popstar-turned-politician Bobi Wine, a day after canceling his nationwide shows, the musician said.

Wine alleged that officers were also searching visitors to his home in Magere north of Kampala capital.”Police and the military have been deployed at my residence since yesterday, after the violent arrest. My home is under siege. They have surrounded my fence and installed barricades on all roads leading to my home,” he said

In a Facebook post, Diaspora Ugandans said “Diaspora Ugandans living in the United States, our thoughts and prayers aren’t enough—we need and must back it up with ACTION. We are all getting alerts from friends/family/journalists back home in Uganda that Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, continues to remain under house arrest, blocked from leaving his property by the Ugandan police AND the Ugandan military for simple freedom of expression, assembly and movement.”

A police spokesman for Kampala, Patrick Onyango, told AFP that Wine was apprehended then driven home “to enable us to talk to him so that he and his team learn to respect the law.”

Wine’s much-anticipated show at his private club on the shores of Lake Victoria was cancelled on Sunday by police, who cited safety concerns and sealed off roads to the venue.